Developing a General Outcome Measure of Growth in the Expressive Communication of Infants and Toddlers

Abstract

Proficiency in expressive communication is an important outcome in early childhood necessary for cognitive and social development. The development of an experimental measure for assessing growth in expressive communication in children from birth to 3 years of age is described. The measure was developed using general outcome measurement (GOM) procedures (Deno, 1997; Fuchs & Deno, 1991). GOMs are uniquely appropriate for use in the identification of children having difficulty acquiring a socially valid outcome, such as expressive communication, and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions for these children. Results from a sample of 25 infants and toddlers assessed once in Study I demonstrated the development and feasibility of these measures. Results from a sample of 50 infants and toddlers assessed monthly for 9 months in Study II indicated that the measure displayed adequate psychometric properties of reliability and validity and was sensitive to growth over time. Implications for practice are discussed.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gayle J. Luze

Gayle J. Luze, Ph.D., is an Assistant Scientist at Iowa State University. While working on this project at the Juniper Gardens Children's Project, University of Kansas, she served as Project Coordinator. Her research interests include early childhood, alternative assessment, literacy, language development, and interventions for challenging behaviors.

Deborah L. Linebarger

Deborah L. Linebarger, Ph.D., is a Principal Investigator at the Juniper Gardens Children's Project and Assistant Research Professor in the Institute for Life Span Studies at the University of Kansas. Her research interests include literacy and language development in the contexts of media and childcare experiences, especially with children who come from poverty backgrounds.

Charles R. Greenwood

Charles R. Greenwood, Ph.D., is Director of the Juniper Gardens Children's Project and Senior Scientist in the Institute for Life Span Studies at the University of Kansas. His research interests include alternative assessment, early intervention, special education, and bridging the gap between research and practice.

Judith J. Carta

Judith J. Carta, Ph.D., is Director of Early Childhood Research at the Juniper Gardens Children's Project and Senior Scientist in the Institute for Life Span Studies at the University of Kansas. Her research interests include effective early intervention, examining environmental risks for children in poverty, and alternative assessment.

Dale Walker

Dale Walker, Ph.D., is a Principal Investigator at the Juniper Gardens Children's Project and Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Life at the University of Kansas. Her research interests include early intervention and language development.

Carol Leitschuh

Carol Leitschuh, Ph.D., is a Principal Investigator with the Center on Early Education and Development and Research Associate in Developmental and Adapted Physical Education, School of Kinesiology and Leisure Studies at the University of Minnesota. Her research interests include assessment of early childhood movement skill and early childhood special education.

Jane B. Atwater

Jane B. Atwater, Ph.D., is Principal Investigator at the Juniper Gardens Children's Project and Assistant Research Professor in the Institute for Life Span Studies at the University of Kansas. Her research interests include observational assessment, research methodology, and early intervention.